Hey Rick! The privacy issues with Helium’s free plan are too substantial for me to overlook. As I was signing up, I saw that they require you to set their app to *always track location*. This crosses a line for me and I am not comfortable with it.
There are those who are waving this off, saying “carriers already have your location through cell tower information so this is no big deal”. My answer is, yes that’s true, but there are at least some nominal protections on that data. Plus it’s course data, not exact location. If I agree to heliums terms, they are free to use my location data however they want.
Hi Rick, I also saw the Helium Zero plan a few days ago and plan to use it on a second phone. I saw the waitlist and did a quick search for referral codes. HELIUMCEO worked for me and their SIM is on the way to me. I hope this free service sticks around.
It really sounds like the old days of cellular. "peak/off peak" minutes. What happens over the 100 minutes talk time? I see people saying use as a back up phone but-what? like replace my landline with it? woah not bad- it IS the HOME PHONE right so location's no big deal?...
I like the idea of having an inexpensive second cell phone just in case my primary gets lost, stolen, broken, etc. Especially if I'm going on a trip. Toss in your bag, use only if necessary.
Hi Rick and thanks for a great newsletter. First, changing over to the Rotten Apple (RA) aka Mac, was excrutialing painful but once there everything seemed seamless. I've used Bookbub for years and love it. On another book subject there's Chirp (https://www.chirpbooks.com), great audio books at a fantastic price.
Agreed re: Chirp, which I've mentioned here a few times (but not lately). You can also get 15 hours' worth of audiobooks (per month) free with a Spotify subscription!
I made the switch to Mac OS in 2012, and have been stumped on more recent Windows releases. If you switch your personal computer to Mac too, I predict you will never look back.
I use Microsoft Office for Mac because I don’t want to give up the (usually formatting or animations) shortcuts that Google Workspace or Apple Pages et al don’t have.
Recently, someone shared a Microsoft Publisher file with me! Office for Mac doesn’t have Publisher. (And why would it— Especially today when there are so many capable, free, and extremely functional and intuitive design software available?) May I recommend the totally free LibreOffice to you. You may need it to share files someday.
I may consider using Helium for my business line if I ever move to two separate phones. I used to have my business phone number on an app by my then carrier for $15/month. They made a big deal that they were discontinuing the service so I ported my business phone number to the carrier. So I have both my primary phone number and business phone number on my iPhone. This is way more costly than $15/month. I don’t think it’s possible to have my primary line with one carrier and my business phone number with another on the same phone — unless it’s through an app. But I don’t want to have two phones.
This doesn't sound like something I would use personally, but it does sound like something that would be great for someone like my mom. My mom is in her 70's and currently uses a $100 a year Red Pocket plan. She still has a landline and just uses her cell for occasional text messages and emergencies.
Re Gina's good comment re phones with 2 phone numbers..
Back in the day (the 1990s) Nextel phones all had an option to have 2 phone numbers on 1 handset and the capability to receive 2 separate bills each month.
And of course the fast Push To Talk which the 21 million Nextel users probably still miss since it was so efficient.
Rick also a big fan of yours going back decades to your CNET days
OK, here’s my situation: I rely heavily on a handful of Windows shortcuts… and I’m currently using a Windows keyboard with my MacBook. I tried remapping Command to Ctrl but for whatever reason now I’m having to use Alt for most of the shortcuts.
Ultimately what I want is this: All the Ctrl-based Windows commands (Ctrl-A, Z, X, C, V) mapped to the Ctrl key on this keyboard. AND, Alt-Tab for switching windows. (In the MOST ideal world, I’d also be able to press Win-V for access to a clipboard history.)
I think part of the issue is that certain Mac keyboard shortcuts are relegated to the Command key and others use Control; difficult to get them under the same “shortcut roof,” so to speak.
I used Windows for many, many years before being forced to the Mac world - but "expert" may be an exaggeration.
For Ctrl-Key stuff, go to System Settings... scroll down to Keyboard... on the right, look for "Keyboard Shortcuts..." button... should pop up a new window.
On the left, at the bottom, should be "Modifier Keys"
There, you can assign Command to Control key, and you should get Ctrl-A, Z, X, C, V, along with Ctrl-Tab to cycle through open windows.
You can also assign Command to Option key ... and you get duplicate functionality, but that can help when you're accustomed to Alt-Tab
I'd have to look a bit more into Clipboard history.
Note that the Modifier key mapping is Keyboard specific - so, if you use more than one keyboard, you'll need to repeat the steps for each.
I’ve managed to remap everything just about right, with one lingering annoyance: I use Ctrl-Arrow(left/right) to skip the cursor one word at a time, but now it jumps to the beginning or end of the line. From what I can tell, only some code is likely to remedy this… blerg.
Hey Rick! The privacy issues with Helium’s free plan are too substantial for me to overlook. As I was signing up, I saw that they require you to set their app to *always track location*. This crosses a line for me and I am not comfortable with it.
There are those who are waving this off, saying “carriers already have your location through cell tower information so this is no big deal”. My answer is, yes that’s true, but there are at least some nominal protections on that data. Plus it’s course data, not exact location. If I agree to heliums terms, they are free to use my location data however they want.
Sorry I won’t do that, even for free.
Hi Rick, I also saw the Helium Zero plan a few days ago and plan to use it on a second phone. I saw the waitlist and did a quick search for referral codes. HELIUMCEO worked for me and their SIM is on the way to me. I hope this free service sticks around.
As a backup phone, yes.
Thanks for the LOL Rick! "The pricing on this thing jumps around more than Godzilla on Tokyo."
It really sounds like the old days of cellular. "peak/off peak" minutes. What happens over the 100 minutes talk time? I see people saying use as a back up phone but-what? like replace my landline with it? woah not bad- it IS the HOME PHONE right so location's no big deal?...
I like the idea of having an inexpensive second cell phone just in case my primary gets lost, stolen, broken, etc. Especially if I'm going on a trip. Toss in your bag, use only if necessary.
yes as a 2nd line on an older phone that still works
Hi Rick and thanks for a great newsletter. First, changing over to the Rotten Apple (RA) aka Mac, was excrutialing painful but once there everything seemed seamless. I've used Bookbub for years and love it. On another book subject there's Chirp (https://www.chirpbooks.com), great audio books at a fantastic price.
Thanks again Rick.
Agreed re: Chirp, which I've mentioned here a few times (but not lately). You can also get 15 hours' worth of audiobooks (per month) free with a Spotify subscription!
Thank you so much for reposting the Godzilla deal-that sucker is DA BOMB. There's a review with live video on how it works..awesome
I made the switch to Mac OS in 2012, and have been stumped on more recent Windows releases. If you switch your personal computer to Mac too, I predict you will never look back.
I use Microsoft Office for Mac because I don’t want to give up the (usually formatting or animations) shortcuts that Google Workspace or Apple Pages et al don’t have.
Recently, someone shared a Microsoft Publisher file with me! Office for Mac doesn’t have Publisher. (And why would it— Especially today when there are so many capable, free, and extremely functional and intuitive design software available?) May I recommend the totally free LibreOffice to you. You may need it to share files someday.
I may consider using Helium for my business line if I ever move to two separate phones. I used to have my business phone number on an app by my then carrier for $15/month. They made a big deal that they were discontinuing the service so I ported my business phone number to the carrier. So I have both my primary phone number and business phone number on my iPhone. This is way more costly than $15/month. I don’t think it’s possible to have my primary line with one carrier and my business phone number with another on the same phone — unless it’s through an app. But I don’t want to have two phones.
Really love your column.
This doesn't sound like something I would use personally, but it does sound like something that would be great for someone like my mom. My mom is in her 70's and currently uses a $100 a year Red Pocket plan. She still has a landline and just uses her cell for occasional text messages and emergencies.
$100/year certainly isn't bad... but free is definitely better. :)
Another awesome newsletter! True deals I haven't heard elsewhere. Quick easy read. I like the personal touch where you explain the deal a little.
Very excited to watch the Big Game today in 4K on Tubi on my smart tv thanks to you (and Tubi) though I wish it was our Detroit Lions instead🦁
Wonder how the Lions would have fared against that Eagles defensive line. Mahomes rarely got more than a few seconds in the pocket... and it showed!
Re Gina's good comment re phones with 2 phone numbers..
Back in the day (the 1990s) Nextel phones all had an option to have 2 phone numbers on 1 handset and the capability to receive 2 separate bills each month.
And of course the fast Push To Talk which the 21 million Nextel users probably still miss since it was so efficient.
Rick also a big fan of yours going back decades to your CNET days
There are HUGE privacy issues with Helium that are not minor:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/15/23833308/helium-network-mobile-miami-5
Hey Rick… feel free to reach out to me for your Mac questions :)
Are you a closet Windows/Mac expert, Don?! 😜
OK, here’s my situation: I rely heavily on a handful of Windows shortcuts… and I’m currently using a Windows keyboard with my MacBook. I tried remapping Command to Ctrl but for whatever reason now I’m having to use Alt for most of the shortcuts.
Ultimately what I want is this: All the Ctrl-based Windows commands (Ctrl-A, Z, X, C, V) mapped to the Ctrl key on this keyboard. AND, Alt-Tab for switching windows. (In the MOST ideal world, I’d also be able to press Win-V for access to a clipboard history.)
I think part of the issue is that certain Mac keyboard shortcuts are relegated to the Command key and others use Control; difficult to get them under the same “shortcut roof,” so to speak.
Any help/guidance appreciated!
Thanks,
Rick
Worth mentioning... I spend about 90% of my time on Mac, and 10% on Windows... and I'm constantly hitting the wrong key combinations - grrrr.
I used Windows for many, many years before being forced to the Mac world - but "expert" may be an exaggeration.
For Ctrl-Key stuff, go to System Settings... scroll down to Keyboard... on the right, look for "Keyboard Shortcuts..." button... should pop up a new window.
On the left, at the bottom, should be "Modifier Keys"
There, you can assign Command to Control key, and you should get Ctrl-A, Z, X, C, V, along with Ctrl-Tab to cycle through open windows.
You can also assign Command to Option key ... and you get duplicate functionality, but that can help when you're accustomed to Alt-Tab
I'd have to look a bit more into Clipboard history.
Note that the Modifier key mapping is Keyboard specific - so, if you use more than one keyboard, you'll need to repeat the steps for each.
I’ve managed to remap everything just about right, with one lingering annoyance: I use Ctrl-Arrow(left/right) to skip the cursor one word at a time, but now it jumps to the beginning or end of the line. From what I can tell, only some code is likely to remedy this… blerg.